Most children are quite fond of their years in elementary school. Elementary students are not faced with the pressures of fitting in, test scores, obscene amounts of homework, and other stresses of being older. These young children wake up every morning bright and early because they are excited to learn and actually enjoy attending to school. This natural enthusiasm is a wonderful thing and it is such a shame to see it deteriorate with age.
Just as most other elementary students, I woke up each morning for school “bright eyed and bushy tailed”. I was avid and ready to learn. Every year, this pattern continued. I loved learning new things and going to school was exciting!
Sadly, this all changed once I became a fourth grader. The first day began just as any other. I was eager and ready to begin the new school year. I had Mrs. Santore who was a teacher that my two older siblings both had and loved. I could not wait to start classes and see what this year had to offer!
However, this all began to change. As the year transcended, I started struggling with the new amount of work that the fourth grade had to offer. School became a chore. I lagged getting on the bus each morning and the perpetual smile left my face. Mrs. Santore was not as fun loving as when my siblings were her students. She publicly criticized me when I struggled with a subject, began comparing me to my siblings, and surrounding me with negativity.Each day, I would come home confused and wondered why school became such a hassle.
After completing the fourth grade, I was not ecstatic to begin the fifth. However, I came in on the first day and my teacher was wonderful! She was excited to have me and treated me exactly like all of my other peers. Ms. McLaughlin made me feel as though I belonged in my class. Her positive attitude and friendly approach allowed me to flourish in her classroom. I actually became one of her “star pupils” and she eventually recommended me for advanced classes for the sixth grade. Ms. McLaughlin completely changed my elementary experience and I am forever thankful. She is one of my primary influences to become an Elementary Education major here at the University of Rhode Island.
The elementary experience is all about making learning enjoyable and fun. There are no unnecessary stresses of being an elementary student, which is one of the things I admire most about it. Their teachers create a loving and positive environment for them to learn and thrive. However, when a educator does not exhibit these qualities, it can cause a student to fall behind and become disinterested in the subject. If teachers can achieve this, then learning and education can continue to be a positive and fun part of people’s lives, no matter how old you are.
An Early Childhood Influence:
By Sara Buckley
Most children are quite fond of their years in elementary school. Elementary students are not faced with the pressures of fitting in, test scores, obscene amounts of homework, and other stresses of being older. These young children wake up every morning bright and early because they are excited to learn and actually enjoy attending to school. This natural enthusiasm is a wonderful thing and it is such a shame to see it deteriorate with age.
Just as most other elementary students, I woke up each morning for school “bright eyed and bushy tailed”. I was avid and ready to learn. Every year, this pattern continued. I loved learning new things and going to school was exciting!
Sadly, this all changed once I became a fourth grader. The first day began just as any other. I was eager and ready to begin the new school year. I had Mrs. Santore who was a teacher that my two older siblings both had and loved. I could not wait to start classes and see what this year had to offer!
However, this all began to change. As the year transcended, I started struggling with the new amount of work that the fourth grade had to offer. School became a chore. I lagged getting on the bus each morning and the perpetual smile left my face. Mrs. Santore was not as fun loving as when my siblings were her students. She publicly criticized me when I struggled with a subject, began comparing me to my siblings, and surrounding me with negativity. Each day, I would come home confused and wondered why school became such a hassle.
After completing the fourth grade, I was not ecstatic to begin the fifth. However, I came in on the first day and my teacher was wonderful! She was excited to have me and treated me exactly like all of my other peers. Ms. McLaughlin made me feel as though I belonged in my class. Her positive attitude and friendly approach allowed me to flourish in her classroom. I actually became one of her “star pupils” and she eventually recommended me for advanced classes for the sixth grade. Ms. McLaughlin completely changed my elementary experience and I am forever thankful. She is one of my primary influences to become an Elementary Education major here at the University of Rhode Island.
The elementary experience is all about making learning enjoyable and fun. There are no unnecessary stresses of being an elementary student, which is one of the things I admire most about it. Their teachers create a loving and positive environment for them to learn and thrive. However, when a educator does not exhibit these qualities, it can cause a student to fall behind and become disinterested in the subject. If teachers can achieve this, then learning and education can continue to be a positive and fun part of people’s lives, no matter how old you are.